Criticism For Loss In Panchayat Polls Leads Couple To Commit Suicide, Husband Dies In Odisha’s Bhadrak

Bhadrak: In a tragic end to recently concluded panchayat elections in the district, a couple reportedly resorted to suicide after feeling humiliated by the criticism of the victorious candidate and her supporters. While the husband died, his wife is struggling for life in a hospital.

According to sources, Sumati Parida of Bada Agapur village had contested for panchayat samiti member post of Padmapur panchayat under Basudevpur block. She lost to BJD candidate Sandhyarani Nayak.

On Sunday evening, BJD leaders and workers took out a rally for the party’s victory in the elections. All the elected members of the party including Zilla Parishad member Jay Krushna Nayak, sarpanch Rajendra Narayan Nayak, samiti member Sandhyarani and block chairperson Dinabandhu Das participated in the rally.

While the procession was going on, Sumati and her husband Ramakant Parida were witnessing it from the verandah of their house. Finding them standing in their house, the supporters of Sandhayarani reportedly mocked at Sumati and Ramakant.

Feeling humiliated by the mocking and criticism, Sumati allegedly consumed poison and Ramakant hanged himself in the house.

Later, their family members rushed them to district headquarters hospital. The doctors declared Ramakant brought dead. As the condition of Sumati turned critical, she was shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. She is undergoing treatment there.

Following the incident, the couple’s family filed a complaint at Basudevpur police station. They along with villagers also stated a road blockade with the body of Ramakant on Monday. The police have registered a case and launched an investigation. However, nobody has been arrested so far.